The final stretch of “ March: Book Three” really brought the overall message to light. I read about Bloody Sunday and Turnaround Tuesday. This portion of the book also focused on the death of many participants and leaders during the civil rights movement, including Malcolm X. To me, these events are seen as the “last straw”. America and African Americans grew weary of the struggle to fight for equality . Change was needed and it was needed now. I found it especially interesting that you placed the interactions with President Obama in the midst of horrific events happening within the book. It gave me a sense of relief and hope that the struggle with soon be over. Though I’m curious, was that your intention of adding that or were you trying to relay another underlying message? In 2019, I’m sure African Americans would have found a more violent approach when it comes to fighting for civil rights. To handle racism today, some love while others remain angry and become physical. It all depends on the person.
I have been employed at an amusement park for 2 ½ years. In training, they teach every team member to have the line moving every 30 seconds. They also teach everyone including managers to perform a small spiel to every customer. The spiel consists of repeating the order back to the consumer and telling them their total. With such little time to interact with people, I began to alienate myself from the guest and coworkers. Alienation from society is the topic I am writing on because often times, people are so focused on work they forget to build relationships with other people. I chose this space because it’s an environment when you come into contact with people and don’t hold a conversation for at least 2 minutes.
There is a RaceTrac on the corner of John Wesley Dobbs and Piedmont Avenue.
This is an image of the exact RaceTrac I spent time analyzing.
At the door, a tall male stands in all black. He leans on the door handle only opening the door to let people in and out. A female stares at the man as she waits for him to open the door to let her inside. The man does not move. He does not turn his head in her direction or even acknowledge that he can feel her looking at him. Inside the RaceTrac, there are a lot of people walking around trying to find a quick, convenient item or snack. By the drink machine in the back of the gas station, there stands a young girl. She is in a RaceTrac uniform with her name tag placed on the left side of her shirt. She holds her phone in one hand scrolling through Instagram while she uses the other hand to wipe down the sticky counter. She maneuvers her way around the countertops by the drink machine, wiping as she goes but never looking up from her phone. She occasionally notices feet approaching her but never opens her mouth to speak to anyone nearby. Next to the drink machine, behind a long counter with a heated top lays 2 ½ pizzas. Two girls stand behind the counter. They are also dressed in the RaceTrac uniform. One female stands beside the pizza oven awaiting for the next one to come out. She has AirPods in her ears and nods her head to the music. The next female stands perpendicular from the first. She just stares into the crowd with her arms folded. She walks up to answer someone’s question with “No.” and returns back to her spot.
The first female with the AirPods watches the pizza as it slowly glides out the oven. She quickly grabs the pizza out using a pizza peel and walks it over to where the pizza goes for serving. She cuts the pizza, turns around, and begin to disappear behind a tall storage unit. She walks away without even acknowledging the individuals in front of her getting pizza and goes on about her day. At the front of the store, there are three cashiers. Two are males and one is a female. The line moves about every 30-60 seconds. Each customer is asked “Is that all?” then they are told their total. After each buzzing noise confirming the transaction has been completed, each cashier yells, “Next Guest!” It is a never ending continuum and not once do they ask someone how their day is going or attempt to engage in any small talk.
Alienation from the outside world is very common although not always recognized. It becomes a bigger issue when this alienation progresses to complete alienation from the world itself and all things in it. In most cases, people work five days a week, eight hours a day. This is a lot of time spent doing tasks simply to get paid. In other instances, people end up taking work home because eight hours is not enough to complete the work load. Someone is so involved in work does not have much time to speak to people and alienation is becoming more and more common. I feel as though alienation needs to be recognized because it is slowly causes relationships between people to diminish and causing society to separate as a whole. Nobody takes time to hold small conversations and just interact with people. The need for companionship is normal within humans but that natural need is beginning to disappear. This could harm society in the long run because interpersonal relationships would decrease.
I have continued reading your book. It’s gets more and more powerful with each page I turn. In this section of the book, they are broadcasting the discrimination and disenfranchisement happening in the south. It infuriated me a little bit when the government purposely cut off Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer while she shared testimony. The lengths that people will go to cover their own backs is unbelievable. Was it your intent to make your audience feel how that event made you feel? Also, I enjoyed hearing about your influence and work in Africa. I a curious though, at which point does Sheriff Clark stop giving the people so much trouble? In 2019, we could solve this problem by registering to vote from the comfort of our homes. Registering to vote online is what most people prefer to do to avoid waiting in long lines.
We are getting deeper into the book now. I knew horrible things were happening in the South but I didn’t know it was this bad. I read about Freedom Day and the Freedom Vote and the 3 people who went missing. It’s absolutely unacceptable. I’ve been learning about the Civil Rights Movement all my life but never like this. I’m disgusted with the way people would act back then. The extent people went to just to avoid having colored people vote. I get more and more angry as I read more of the book. It’s just not right. I must ask though, how were you able to stay so strong during all this? Honestly, in 2019, I’m not quiet sure what we would have done if we were put in that situation.
MARCH Book 3 has been chosen as my freshman read for English 1101. I’ve only read the first few pages and I can already tell its going to be a moving and eye opening book. The beginning discusses the church bombing with the little girls and I believe that was such an important part to add because it really highlights how things were during that time period. It made me feel angered that individuals would do that to little girls because they are so innocent and it just shows how far people will go. I couldn’t help but think of how horrid things were during that time. I analyzed the story and noticed how it was your intent to add the details about the scouts and how it was supposed to make me feel. I noticed how them being scouts really changed perspective because they are supposed to be good boys but they were shooting people. I believe in today’s day and age, these issues can still be combated with the same tactics you guys used. Such as protest and peaceful gatherings.
The hallways were filled with posters and music. Teachers running down the hallway getting everyone ready for the best event to all 2nd graders.It was time for the book fair. As you entered the library, you could smell the fresh printed pages of books and the cookies given to every student who purchased one. The loud sounds of the teachers screaming and children moving within the library trying to find the perfect book. I waited 2 months for this, the book fair was always around the same time every year.
Kia Holmes, Riverside Intermediate
I collected and saved my allowance for 2 months straight so I could buy the perfect books. I ran through the aisles of the book fair, past all the teachers and cookies. I ran straight to the “series” section of the party. There it was. The book I wanted since last year. I finally found it. It was large and pink. It had hand drawn pictures and a spine thick as a biscuit. This was it. I picked up the cold book that came fresh out the box and hugged so tight and against my heart. The title read “ Dork Diaries”.
